Story and photos by Richard W. Dionne, Jr.
Westport soccer fans erupted as the Wildcats edged Clinton in penalty kicks 3-2 (5-4 in pks) in a nail-biting Division 4 Round of 32 game at Clinton High School on a shivering cold Monday night. Westport, the 22-seed with a record of 14-2-3, moves on to face the winner of Manchester Essex and Hampshire Regional in the Sweet Sixteen later this week.
Tiago Branco, Gavin Da Silva, Tiago Rodrigues, Noah Jedrey and Alex Ribeiro all scored during the unnerving shootout session. Westport goalkeeper Johnny Gadboury made "two big saves," according to head coach Dr. Chris Parker, to preserve the win.
The two evenly matched teams were mired in a dogfight during regulation which ended in a 2-2 tie. Senior striker CJ LeBlanc scored on a penalty kick to knot the game 1-1 in the first half.
Clinton scored to go ahead 2-1 in the second half, after they were awarded their second penalty kick of the game.
Wildcats freshman midfielder Noah Vieira knotted the score 2-2, when he headed in a free kick by CJ LeBlanc.
Gadboury made ten saves during regulation and two ten-minute over time periods with the help of senior center back Blake Stewart, center back Jackson Chase, back fielders Jedrey and Alex Reibero.